Cover for manifold books



Dec. 27, 1938.

O. M. DELESDERNIER COVER FOR MANIFOLD BOOKS Filed OCt. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W -m 0 w z d w .ww 7@ D. M n w@ M. r z

n m M fn s Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a cover for manifold books in which the cover is provided with suitable means for holding a separabley and removable pad or body of leaves, such as are used for salesbooks, order books and similar purpo-ses, and in which the covers are used continuously and the pads renewed when necessary.

Heretofore, these covers have generally been made of stiff material covered with leather or other suitable material, the hinge portion being formed of the covering material. Since the covers are designed for continuous use, durability is a highly desirable quality in view of their cost. It has been found, however, that a cover of this character breaks down at the hinge portion, thereby shortening the life of the cover and rendering it non-usable. Another objection to a cover of the foregoing character is that after a comparatively short use, it' becomes soiled and dirty to an extent which makes it unfit for further use. This objection is especially prevalent in industries where the covers are apt to come in contact with grease or oil or similar materials.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a cover which is made entirely, including the hinge portion, of metal or other hard material and which, in consequence, is of great durability and easily kept clean.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hinge construction formed of metal or similar hard material which has a high degree of flexibility and yet is of simple construction.

Yet another object is the provision in the cover for detachably holding a tally sheet for totaling the sales or other data recorded for the pad in use in the cover.

Other objects of the inventionI will be described hereinafter.

My invention contemplates a cover comprising a pair of leaves hinged together in such a manner as to permit the two leaves to lie normally in a spaced apart parallel relation for accommodating a manifold pad, yet permitting the front `or top leaf to be easily turned back into flat engagement with the back or bottom leaf to expose the pad. In its preferred form, the hinge structure is made up of one or more narrow elongated strips and a pluralityof pairs of small links, all of which parts, together with the adjacent ends of the two leaves, are provided with knuckles permltting the parts to be pivotally fastened together by pins mounted in the knuckles. In this arrangement, the links in pairs serve to connect the leaves and the strips together in series and,

in consequence, a hinge structure of unusual flexibility is secured, since all the parts are capable of a free pivotal movement in relation to the other parts.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention,

Figure l is a plan view of one form of cover made in accordance with the invention, the cover being shown in open extended position;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the samezin closed position;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale on line 4-4 in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 `is a view similar to Fig. l of another form of cover having provision for storing a set of triplicate sheets as used, without detaching them from the manifold pad; i

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the same in` closed position;

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view on .in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale on line 8--8 in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures l to 4 of the drawings showing a simple form of the invention adapted for a manifold pad of the duplicate type, I and I2 indicate front and back leaves respectively and I4 designates generally the hinge by which they are connected together to makeup the cover. The hinge I4 comprises an elongated, narrow hinge strip I5, a plurality of links I6 and pins I'I for pivotally connecting the links to the strip I and to the leaves III and I2. On each longitudinal edge of the hinged strip is formed a plurality of knuckles I8, preferably three, and each link has a knuckle 20 on each end. The knuckles on the hinge strip are spaced apart to afford two spaces between the central knuckle and the end knuckles into which spaces the knuckled ends of a pair of links may be fitted in alignment with the knuckles on the hinge strip. The parts are pivotally connected by a pin I'I mounted in the knuckles. Each oi the leaves I0 and I2 has its hinged end provided with knuckles 22 similar in number and arrangement to those on the hinge strip and the other ends of the links I6 are inserted in the space and pivotally connected to the leaf by a pin I'I mounted in the knuckles.

The hinge strip is preferably of a length equal to the width of the leaves and is relatively narrow and the links are short, as a result of which the hinge presents the appearance of a closed hinge. Since the hinge has four'axes of free pivotal movement on the four pins which hold the parts line 1 1 if or original sheet.

together and since the axes are closely grouped, the hinge has, for practical purposes, the exibility of a hinge made of leather or similar material.

The cover may be provided with any suitable means for detachably holding a manifold pad, such as a clamp 24 of well-known construction, comprising a back part 2b fastened to the back leaf I2 by eyelets 26, anda front part 2l, the two parts being connected together by a pin 28. The front part is held in pad engaging position by springs 29.

The front leaf It of the cover is provided on its inner face with means for holding a tally card 32 used generally for recording the totals of the various slips of the manifold pad as they are used, and one form of such means is shown comprising a pair of triangular pockets 33 formed at the top corners of the front leaf, and a pair of holding tabs 3d on opposite sides of the cover adjacent its bottom or hinged end. Preferably these parts are formed integral with the front leaf, the corner pockets being formed each from a pair of triangular extensions on the front leaf on its top and side edges adjacent the corner, which extensions are bent over into a spaced relation to the inner face of the leaf- The tabs 34 are similarly formed and bent. The two upper corners of the tally card 32 are inserted in the pockets 33 and its lower portion is held in place under the tabs 34.

In use, a manifold pad 36 of the duplicate type :is mounted in the clamp, and a transfer sheet 3B fastened along one side edge to a card 39 of stiffer material such as tag stock, is adjusted in the pad, as shown in Figure 4. The card is inserted in the pad between its back il and the body of the pad and the transfer sheet is folded around the edge of the pad and in between the top sheet 4I and the nextadjacent sheet 42. The bottom face of the transfer sheet, which is in contact with the second or duplicate sheet 42, is coated with carbon or other transfer material for impressing on the duplicate sheet whatever is written on the top The back leaf I2 may be provided with a flange ltd for holding the transfer sheet in place. After a transaction has been recorded, the original and duplicate sheets are torn from the stub along a weakened line i5 and the transfer sheet is then positioned between the next two sheets. When the pad has been used up, the stub may be removed from the clamp and a new pad inserted.

In Figures to 8, there is shown another type of cover, made in accordance with my invention, which is adapted for use with a manifold pad of triplicate type and is so constructed that the triplicate copies may be turned back out of the way wihout being detached from the stub of the pad. This permits the stub of the pad when used up to be removed from the cover with a complete copy of all the transactions recorded on the pad.

Since a triplicate pad is of greater thickness than a duplicate pad, the hinge comprises a larger number of parts than the simple form hereinbefore described.

In this form, the cover is shown as comprising front and back leaves 5E and 5i, connected together by a hinge designated generally as 52. In addition, it includes an inner leaf 53 which is hinged in any suitable manner to the bottom end of the back leaf, as by a pin 5d inserted in 1gnuckles 55 and 5E formed on the ends of the back and inner leaves respectively. A spring 5l on the pin holds the latterleaf normally in engagement with the former leaf.

The hinge 52 is identical in construction With the hinge I4 with the exception that it includes an additional hinge strip I5 and another pair of links I6, with two additional pins I1, and the front and back leaves 50 and 5I respectively are provided on their hinged ends with knuckles 22, similar in number and arrangement to those in the rst form of cover. The two hinge strips I5 are connected together in close parallel relation by a pair of links I6 and pins I'I and each hinge strip is connected to one of the leaves by another pair of links I E and pins I'I.

In this form, a clamp 24 is fastened to the front face of the free end of the inner leaf 53 by eyelets E@ so that the pad is supported on said inner leaf, and the inner face of the front leaf 50 is provided with integral corner pockets 33 and tabs 34 for holding a tally card 32.

In use, a manifold pad 62 of the triplicate type is mounted in the clamp on the inner leaf and a transfer sheet 33 fastened along one side edge to a card 6d of stiffer material, such as tag stock, is adjusted in the pad as shown in Figure 8. The card is inserted in the pad between its back 66 and the body of the pad, and the transfer sheet is folded around the edge of the pad and in between the duplicate sheet 61 and the triplicate sheet 68. The transfer sheet is coated with transfer material such as carbon on both sides and the duplicate sheet is made of tissue, so that any writing on the original sheet 69 of each set is reproduced on the bottom face of the tissue sheet Vand may be read through it and on `the top face of the triplicate sheet. The inner leaf 53 is provided with an edge flange 'I0 adapted to engage the left-hand side of the manifold pad and to hold the transfer sheet in place.

After each transaction, the original and triplicate sheets may be separated from the stub of the pad along a perforated line "II, and the tissue sheet may be folded over and around the free end of the inner leaf 53 and between that leaf and the back leaf 5I, these sheets remaining attached to the stub of the pad. ,The triplicate copies may, if preferred, be folded over the end of the inner leaf instead of the tissue sheets, or they may be folded over with the tissue sheets if desired. After the pad has been used up, the stub is removed from the clamp with the foldedover sheets attached thereto and may be used as a complete record of all the transactions noted upon that particular pad.

The cover of my invention is preferably made of thin sheet metal of any suitable kind and the various parts may be stamped out of the material and the knuckles formed thereon in any suitable manner, It may be made, however, of other hard and durable materials which are capable of being formed as shown. The advantage of metal construction is that the covers may be coated with enamel, paint, or other coating material of various colors to impart a smooth and attractive appearance.

It will be observed that a hinge constructed in accordance with my invention, although made entirely of metal or other hard material, has all the exibility of a hinge made of exible material such as leather or fabric; This is due to the fact that the alternate arrangement of narrow strips closely connected together in series by very short links produces a hinge having a series of closely associated pivotal axes. The use of short links for connecting the narrowrstrps permits greater pivotal movement of the parts of the hinge than can be accomplished by the pivotal connection of the narrow strips without the intervention of links. As a result of this construction, the cover, when the thickness of the pad carried thereby is reduced, will assume a much flatter form than when the ordinary form of hinge is used, and, at all times, my hinge conforms to the thickness of the pad or pads carried by the cover, thereby offering no obstruction to the device being carried in the pocket.

One of the advantages of my hinge construction is that the covers may be made for inserts of different thicknesses by varying the number of elements comprising the hinge. For the ordinary duplicate books, a hinge comprising a single hinge strip and its associated links wlll generally be found satisfactory, but for triplicate and thicker pads, two or more hinge strips with their associated links may be used. The capacity of the cover may be increased to any extent within practical limits by increasing the number of hinge elements.

Although I have described my invention as primarily designed for covers for manifold pads, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit it to that particular use, since covers made in accordance therewith are susceptible of other uses.

1. A cover of the character described comprising a pair of leaves connected by a hinge, each of said leaves having its hinged portion provided with three knuckles spaced apart to afford two spaces and said hinge comprising an elongated narrow strip member having each longitudinal edge provided with knuckles, similar in size and arrangement to the knuckles on said leaves, a pair of knuckled links and pins for connecting each side of said member to one of said leaves for permitting said leaves to be opened and turned into flat engagement with each other, said links being suliiciently short to hold the longitudinal edges of said member close to the hinged portions of said leaves to form a closed hinge.

2. A cover of the character described comprising a pair of leaves connected by a hinge, each of said leaves having its hinged edge provided with three knuckles spaced apart to afford two spaces and said hinge comprising an elongated narrow strip member equal in length to the length of said hinged edge and having each longitudinal edge provided with knuckles similar in size and arrangement to the knuckles on said leaves, a pair oi knuckled links and pins for connecting each side of said member to one of said leaves for permitting said leaves to be opened and turned into flat engagement with each other, said links being sufficiently short to hold the longitudinal edges of said member close to the hinged edges of said leaves to form a closed hinge.

8. A cover ci the character described comprising a pair of leaves connected by a hinge, each of said leaves having its hinged portion provided with three knuckles spaced apart to afford two spaces and said hinge comprising a plurality of elongated narrow strip members having each longitudinal edge provided with knuckles similar in size and arrangement to the knuckles on said leaves and a plurality of pairs of knuckled links and pins for connecting said members together in parallel series and to said leaves for permitting said leaves to be opened and turned into flat engagement with each other, said links being sufficiently short to hold the longitudinal edges of said members closely together and to the hinged portions of said leaves to form a closed hinge.

4. A cover of the character described comprising a pair of leaves connected by a hinge, each of said leaves having its hinged edge provided with three knuckles spaced apart to afford two spaces and said hinge comprising a plurality of elongated narrow strip members equal in length tothe length of said hinged edge and having each longitudinal edge provided with knuckles similar in size and arrangement to the knuckles on said leaves, a plurality of pairs of knuckled links and pins for connecting said members together in parallel series and to said leaves for permitting said leaves to be opened and turned into flat engagement with each other, said links being suinciently short to hold the longitudinal edges of said members closely together and to the hin-ged edges of said leaves to form a closed hinge.

ORAN M. DELESDERNIER. 

